Current water-wheel



Pateiit'ed Fain-7, I899:

J. P. wmnnzu.

No. 6l9,005.

L.) H Hm Wm E m A. m Tm NM Em n M PU (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

JOHN PHILIP WHIDDEN, OF LOOMIS, WASHINGTON.

CURRENT WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,005, dated-February7, 1899. 7

Application filed March 21, 1898.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PHILIP WHIDDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Loomis, in the county of Okanogan and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current Water-Wheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertain's to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to current waterwheels 5 and the objects thereofare to so construct the same that it will be simple, durable, efficient,and cheaply manufactured.

With these and other objects in view my, invention consists in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts and in the variousdetails thereof, as will be first fully pointed out in the specificationand then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which likesymbols of reference represent corresponding parts in the sev- 'eralviews, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device as applied to verticalshafts. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through center of same. Fig. 3 is aview of wheel in operative position, with part of framework surroundingsame partly broken away.

A represents the shaft, on which the wheel is keyed or otherwise madefast, B the paddles thereof, and b restraining-rods to prevent paddlesfrom turning completely over when on the return or inoperative positionof same.

The wheel is composed of two sections a a, which are so arranged thatthe spokes c in the upper wheel come directly over the spokes c in thelower portion. This maybe accomplished by simply keying the same insalinement upon the shaft,or they may be connected at their peripheriesby brace-rods b, as

shown.

D represents the tires or rims of the wheels, which may be either solidor in sections, in the latter case being secured by suitable bolts.

1) is the hub of wheel, and b an iron ring to which restraining-rods bare connected,

Serial No. 674,596. (No model.)

the purpose of the same being to support said rods and hold the paddlesin their proper position. I 1

The paddles are hinged, as shown, on the upper wheel-section, theconnection being above the middle of the same, so that the lower half ofthe paddle being heavier than the upper causes them to assume a verticalposition in current and a nearly horizontal position in back current.The paddles may, if desired, be hinged so that the hinges lie at therear instead of facing the current, as shown.

The wheel is preferably submerged and boarded in, so that the currentcan only strike one side of the same and forms a back current or eddy onthe other side.

The form of wheel shown is intended for use in large rapid streams, soas to avoid the expense of making a ditch and building a penstock, &o.,for an ordinary water-wheel and where a rapid rise in the river anddriftwood endanger a wheel placed at the surface of the water.

The wheel is placed as near the bed of the river as possible and alldrift-wood passes harmlessly over it. The transmission or power wheel ispreferably also placed below the water-level.

The bearing for the vertical shaft (shown in Fig. 3) consists of a pinh, secured in a beam of the main framework and a recess in the lower endof the shaft, thus preventing any dirt or other material from cloggingth same.

Having now fully described my-invention, What I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the character described, a main shaft, a series of spokessupported by the same, paddles eccentrically pivoted to said spokes, asecond series of spokes against which said paddles rest when inoperation, rods to restrain and support said paddles when inoperative,and a ring to hold the paddles in position upon the spokes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PHILIP WHIDDEN.-

Witnesses:

J. F. WILLIAMS, R. H. PARKINsoN.

